This week is National Assisted Living Week (NALW), and senior living communities across the country are busy hosting activities for the annual observance. This year’s theme, “A Spark of Creativity,” challenges residents, family and staff to try their hand at arts that enrich the senior living experience. At Pacifica Senior Living in Oxnard, California, there’s multiple events lined up throughout the week for residents, and all the activities are refreshingly different. “I want the residents to really step outside their comfort zone and do what they set their mind to,” said Christina Alvarado, activities director for Pacifica in Oxnard. “So I pick things that I would do with my own friends. Something fun and easy and unique, where everyone comes away with their own outcome.” Just check out this list of events that Christina and staff have scheduled for NALW: Drip painting – Take two to four colors of paint and drip them onto a canvas, turning the canvas as you go. The end result is a marbleized, swirling mix of color. It’s simple to do, and everyone’s canvas is special. “It brings out their creativity in a way they wouldn’t have imagined,” said Christina. Fabric pots – Get different types of fabric in a range of patterns and colors and use a sealant to adhere them to pots. The fabric becomes part of the pot, which helps them stand out from the usual painted style. At Pacifica, residents are also planting aloe in their pots, making them both decorative and practical. Cracked gem pendants – Buy regular big glass beads from any glass store, heat them up and then cool them in water. The abrupt temperature change fractures the glass, creating a small spider-web canvas for residents to bring their creativity to. They...